Runway



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,614

R. W. DAVIS RUNWAY Filed sept. 28. 1927 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

BA Y W. DAVIS,'0F BBOWNSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUNWAY.

' Application flled September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,611.

This invention relates to runways, the primary object of the invention being to provide a runway of the portable type to facilitate the launching of an aeroplane from the deck of a ship.

Another object of the invention is toiprovide a device of this character which may be readily and easily moved to its active position and one which may be readily taken down when not in use.

A further object of the inve-ntion is to provide a runway made up of a plurality of Sections which may be readily and easily disconnected or connected at the will of the operator.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, 'it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portable runway constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the same in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the Sections of the runway.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the runway.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the plane elevating hook.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the reinovable plate, at the lower end of the runway.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device includes a support 5 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the surface on which it is mounted.

Bearings indicated at 7 are on the support 5 and accoinmodate the shaft of the drum 8 on which the cables 9 that support the runway and form a part thereof, are wound. A crank indicated at 10 is mounted on one end of the drum and affor-ds means whereby the drum may be rotated to wind the cables. The runway includes a plurality of Sections indicated generally by the reference Character 11, each section embodying a length of channel .iron as clearly shown by Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there being provided tubular members 12 arranged between the flanges of each section through which vthe cables 9 are extended when the runway is to be assembled for use.

Uprights 18 have their lower ends pivotally supported between theflanges 14 of the securing plates 15, the fianges being provided with a plurality of openings 16 so that the uprigh'ts may be adjusted longitudinally of the securing plates to take up the slack in the runway.

The cables 9 are connected with the bar 17 that'in turn is connected with the uprights 13 and as shown'` a windlass 18 is provided on which the Cable 19 is wound, the cable 19 being' also connected by the bar 17 by means of the chains 20 so that as the cable 19 -is wound on the windlass 18, the uprights 13- will be swung from a horizontal position to a Vertical position as shown by Figure 1.

Bracing arms A21 also have pivotal connection with the uprights 13 at 22, the lower ends thereof resting in the notches 23 of the blocks 24 that are secured to the surface on which the device is mounted.

In order that the runway will be held rigid against lateral or swinging movement, under the action of the aeroplane moving thereover, lateral braces 25 are provided and act to hold the runway taut.

At the lower end of the runway is a removable plate 26 which is provided with a depending flange 27 to be hooked over a suitable securing mechanism forming a part of the support 5. Pulleys 28 are secured to one of the Sections of the runway between which pulleys the cable 2 9 operates, the cable 29 being provided with the plate 30 at one end, to which the hook 3]. is pivotally secured, there being provided a pivoted keeper 32 in the form of a yoke adapted to swing over the hook, to normally lock the hook against niovement.

This cable 29 is used in moving an aeroplane from the surface on which the runway is positioned, to a. position at the top of the runway. The reference Character indicates a hook that is connected with the cable 34, the cable 34 being comparatively short so that when it is desired to release the aeroplane, the cab'leV 29 is slackened. after the propeller of the aeroplane has It is to be understood that While the 'device fis designed particularly .for use on the decks of ships, the device may beeficiently em- Vployed on any supporting surface.

I claim:

1. A portable runvvay including a stationarysupporting member,a drum on the sup- 1 porting member, a plurality of cables Wound On the drum, a plurality of runway sections removably secured to the cables, and meansl -fonelevatiiig oneend ot the runway.

2. A portable runxvay includingra stat-ionfary-.supporting member, a drum mounted on rtheisupportmg member, alplurality otcables Aadptedto vbewound on the drum, runway :Sections including channel bars having openings through which the cables arev threaded to connect thesections, and means tor elevating onelend 'of the runway.

?. A portable runway including-a. sup- `porting'member, "a drum mounted on the supportingmember, cables connected to the drum and ada ited to be Wound thereon runrway.. sections removably supported on the ca- .bles',pivoted .uprights, a bar connectingthe uprights at their upper' ends and to which the cables are connected, means for moving lthe v.uprights to their active positions,-and

ture.

Abraeing arms for bracing the uprights in their active positlons.,

4. A portable runway including a stationary supporting member, a drum on the supporting -member, a `'Iilurality of eables mounted on the 'drum and Vadapted to be ;wound on the drum, runway Sections including inverted channel bars, said channel bars having openings, tubes connecting the openmgsof the channel bars and' through which the-cables eX-tend, pivoted uprights to which the cables are connected, means for swing.- inig the uprights to their Vertical positions to elevate one end of the runvvay, and pivotedV bracing members connected with the uprights fortbracing the uprights in their vertica-l v-positions. v

5; A portable runwayincluding a supporting member, a drum mounted onthe supportingmember,` cables Wound on` the drum, aj plurality .of inverted channel bars having their fla'nges contacting to providera runway, said cables having connection Wit-hthe channel bars to hold the channel bars together,

luprights for' elevating one end of the runway, means tor moving the uprights to their actlve'positions, and lateral bracing members 'for holding the runway against vertical .movement In testimony that I claim the. foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my. signa- RAY W. Davis 

